LOCAL ECONOMY

May 12 2026BUSINESS

When water vanishes: How a break left a town high and dry

Downtown Lake Orion turned eerily quiet after a big pipe cracked early Sunday morning. On Monday, most shops stayed shut while crews worked to fix the damage. The loss of water hit restaurants hardest, especially since Sunday was Mother’s Day—a day usually packed with families dining out. One local

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May 11 2026BUSINESS

Small businesses in Savannah show signs of growth but face tough challenges

Savannah’s economy is booming, mostly thanks to big players like the port and Hyundai’s new electric vehicle plant. But small businesses aren’t seeing the same rise. While mid-sized and large companies are growing fast, tiny businesses with under 20 workers are barely keeping up. Most of the small b

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May 10 2026BUSINESS

How Rising Fuel Costs Push Small Vendors to Adapt at Farmers Markets

The climb in gas prices has hit both sellers and shoppers hard. About a year ago, filling up a tank cost $3. 98 a gallon, but now some drivers pay nearly $6. For a farm shifting loads of berries from Central Coast fields to market, that extra cost adds up fast. One family-run business now spends $14

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Apr 29 2026BUSINESS

Dupont Circle shops struggle while city builds new park above busy road

A big construction project in Dupont Circle is causing problems for small businesses. The city is building a park on top of an underpass and adding bike lanes and sidewalks. Officials say it will make the area safer and nicer, but shop owners say they’re losing customers because of the work. One ba

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Apr 25 2026BUSINESS

Airport shops keep local names alive but not their original essence

Portland’s airport now has two new small shops that borrow names from local businesses. One is called Sheridan Fruit Company, named after a grocery that closed in February after 110 years. The other is Topaz Farm, a nod to a farm on Sauvie Island that reopened in 2020 under a new label. Both shops s

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Apr 15 2026BUSINESS

Savannah’s Small Business Week Gets a Fresh Start

The city of Savannah is gearing up for its annual Small Business Week, which will run from May 4 to May 8. The highlight is the Mayor’s Small Business Conference on May 6, where entrepreneurs can learn from peers and city leaders. Registration is open online but will close on April 24 or sooner if s

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Mar 28 2026OPINION

Minnesota Farms: The Backbone of Our Food

The state’s farmers are the unseen heroes that keep our plates full. Minnesota is sixth in overall farm output across the U. S. and leads in more than 20 products, such as sugar beets, turkeys, green peas, hogs, sweet corn, soybeans, sunflower seeds, canola, dry beans and oats. Corn is the fou

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Mar 25 2026POLITICS

San Diego Pushes for Film‑Industry Boost

A group of union members, producers and filmmakers gathered on the lawn outside the San Diego County Administration Building to ask for more money and support for local film work. They held a press event before speaking at the county budget meeting. Their main requests are: a film commission,

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Mar 14 2026BUSINESS

New Sports Bar Brings Women’s Games to Portland, Maine

The Sports Bra is set to open its second location in Portland, Maine, a city known for food and sports. The move follows the brand’s first launch in Portland, Oregon, where it started in 2022. The Maine spot will show WNBA, NWSL, and PWHL matches along with big events like the Boston Marathon, the O

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Feb 14 2026BUSINESS

Downtown Duluth: A Tale of Struggle and Change

Downtown Duluth is going through big changes. The mayor has promised to make it better. He wants to bring more people and businesses there. The city is working on rules to make it easier to build new things. They also want to bring more homes and shops to the area. This could help bring more people

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